A French Brocante in California ~ Welcome to The Irresistible Paris Party

First, I would like to say thank you to Anita for hosting this event. I’m blessed to know Anita personally, as she is married to my handsome brother (Mr. Rattus). You will not find a more caring soul on this earth. I know by your comments that many of you know this already.

Join with me in the inspiration for my blog post on Irresistible Paris . . .

I wanted to share with you a bit of my Francophile ways, so I searched out a bit of Paris, France, where I live. Luckily for me, I didn’t have to look too far, as a wonderful event was being hosted in Sonoma, California. I grabbed my trusty camera and drove to Sonoma on Sunday to photograph it, and to take you on a California French Brocante tour with me.

For the last nine years, Chateau Sonoma Antiques, owned by Sarah Anderson, has been home to an authentic French Flea Market, with vendors specializing in everything French and wonderful.

Sarah’s store is quintessentially French in design. She very kindly allowed me to photograph her store and the event. I began at the door, where I fell in love with this incredibly creative peacock display.

I think this room is fabulous, from the balloon chandelier to the pairing of the elegant modern acrylic table and antique style furniture pieces.

I’m a big believer in mixing it up. Design gets too stagnant for me if it’s all from the same period. I love the flow here, and the sweet little water balls under the table add just the right whimsical touch.

A vintage Eiffel tower on an antique book display. This would be perfect in a gentleman’s study.

I made my way out through the French doors and into the brocante itself. The quaint courtyard area was filled with French treasures.

I met some wonderful people at this event. Among them were Trinidad and Martin, of Atelier de Campagne. When I introduced myself to Trinidad, he was kind and charming. We spoke of blogging and their upcoming trip to France.

I loved the vignettes that Trinidad displayed in the Atelier de Campagne space.

Trinidad and Martin were debating about who would be toting all of their finds in France. If you’re reading this, you two, I hope you chronicle your adventures for us.

Another great vendor, Michelle Sekula, had some serious eye candy. I wanted to bring home everything in her glass display cases.

I tried to photograph a few of her things through the glass.

Hope you’re enjoying your brocante tour with moi . . .

Below are more photos, so please sit back, enjoy the music, and relax.

I have to leave you with this mini montage of Sarah. As I said, she was so very nice when I asked to photograph her event, even though she was busy making sure her customers were well taken care of.

buongiono Nancy I LOVED your Brocante tour one of my Pashions and espaecilly when i saw a carriage foot warmer with succulents in it !! I have one in weird green also from paris enjoy the day its lovely to see so many aspects Love fay xx

You did it again ma chère......this is the world I love and the time-worn pieces speak volumes of craftsmanship AND life. Someone used these items and then to see each scratch and chipped area gives me chills to just IMAGINE who had it. YOU ARE SO CLASSY, YOU SEE THE BEAUTY IN SO MUCH. We miss you so much, but we shall see each other again. My biggest dream would be to BALADER with YOU in France...your choice...South of France? Paris? Le Perigord where Ruben wants to retire? It is all SIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE...merci mille fois ma belle...have fun..Anita

Nancy, what a wondeful tour....so many gorgoeus things...I agree, the santos is so charming, how fabulous to have him in an entry way!!!! Love all the treasures and your so correct, it is a charming shop!!!Thank you for sharing!Hugs,Margaret B

How wonderful to meet you along the way while in our Paris fun! Anita is so special and lovely! I'm sure it's just wonderful having family get together's with you all!! So lovely to let us shop along the way...so many beautiful Frenchy things! I'm following along...don't really want to leave but there's more places to see here in Paris.Your sweet place was the first!

Bonjour Nancy!! Ah, you are Anita's SIL! It's so nice to "meet" you! Anita is one of the dearest souls I have ever come across!! I am from San Francisco and living in TX now. I love Sonoma! Your photographs, omg, I love everything you showed! That is so my taste! You make me even more homesick for CA now!!! Thanks for the beautiful photos and for visiting my blog! au revoirxOxO

Delightful, Nancy. I feel as if I've been strolling about the brocantes of France. Thank you for introducing us to Chateau Sonoma Antiques. I've made note of it in my files for my next visit to northern CA. Lovely!Bon weekend! ~ Sarah

Beautiful post! Lovely images. I adore that mirror. Simply gorgeous. How blessed you are to have Anita as your sister-in-law. I came across her blog recently and she has got to be one of the sweetest people out there.

We have nothing like that here. I am so jealous and loved every minute of your tour. Now I can take you on some civil war tours if you are so inclined. :) Hope you are having a fabulous weekend. And it's so nice to meet you. ~

Oh Nancy,Where to begin...Firstly, to have our girl Anita as a sister in law, would be pure bliss :)Now, Before I begin to tell you of all the goodness, that I want to scoop up from that perfect shop...I must take out my lace hanky and wipe the drool delicately from my bottom lip. There is NOTHING that does not make me smile...what a perfectly charming world you live in. Thanks so much for sharing this Paris tour with us all...au revoir pour l'instant...Rosie

Oh you delightful girl, lets go to Paris, and I want to do California shopping French Style with you. Your post is delightful. I have loved getting to know Anita, and your brother is one lucky guy. She is a sweetie for sure. I enjoyed all of your photographs. If I am ever anywhere near Sonoma, I will visit Chateau Sonoma Antiques. What a wonderful place to loose ones self for a while.....Hope your enjoying your holiday weekend.

Wonderful photographs! What a great idea, to find a piece of Paris in your own backyard. And how awesome that you're related to Anita! She's one of my favorite people I've ever encountered in the blogosphere.

My dear it's so nice to "meet" you.I enjoyed my time with you.I visited all three of your blogs.First,Lovely to join you in Paris.Second,Your places to visit,how fun.Have you found any British/Irish countrysides to visit? Third, and Oh to die for,YOUR SHOES!

Hi Nancy, so nice meeting you - and seeing these sweet Paris in California pix, so many of them and so nicely put together! I have a fun day visiting all these Paris inspired posts today - hope to see you again!

Hi Nancy...so nice to meet you at the Paris Party!!! I have thoroughly enjoyed your brocante tour...just the right place for a wander through!!! Thank you for your healing wishes for my arm...so much appreciated...Dzintra

Hello ! I was your neighbor back in the spring issue 2009 of the Porch magazine . I popped into your blog & oh what fun to see this great Brocante here in the USA ! Great pictures & post ! What Fun ! Happy Memorial Day ! Hugs, Rhonda

Nancy I'm doing some serious salivating! Such great shots my friend! And I'm green with envy that you got to meet Trinidad and Martin....The heck with Brad Pitt or Hollywood movie stars *winks* I'm in awe of those two! Lol! Vanna

Dear Nancy,What a beautiful post. Filled with lovely treasures. Your sister in law Anita is a beautiful person, you can tell by her words. How fortunate that out of all the people in the world your brother married her!

NANCY MA BELLE! Thank you for coming and merci beaucoup for participating in the Paris post! We had a blast and it is always so fun to meet new friends....I have meet such gracious people along the way and Oh how delicious your post forever will be! LOVE THOSE PEACOCKS!!! Anita

OMGoodness - I know I'm late for the party (fashionably?) but still loving having a look around (thanks for visiting me too)I could gaze at these images for ages - how lucky to live in California but have a genuine french flea market near by.What a treat. And glad to hear that Anita is as lovely in 'real life' as she seems on her very beautiful blog. My OH LOVES any comment she leaves on mine and declares her 'eloquently nuts'!

thanks for sharing...off for a little look around your blogfee @ chipper nelly

Aw, how wonderful Anita is your sister in~law!!!! She is so so lovely!!!! It's been a joy getting to know her in blogland!What a magnefique post! I would to visit Sarah's store, so many gorgeous things!xo gi gi

OMG the Peacock Display, the Vintage White Doors... every vignette is magnificent... I'd need a U-Haul to bring back everything I would have fallen in Love with! *swooning* This was one fabulous Show! Thanks for taking us along on the virtual Tour... only wish I could have beheld all of this fabulousness in person!!!